Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, A Complex Ux Journey

Game Iteration is a THING! Especially if you bring it to a multi-billon dollar franchise like Harry Potter!

Today, I am going to state a short analysis on how Harry Potter: Magic Awakened User Experience is not working as intended in my humble opinion. (At least the Player versus Player - PvP Part)

In the ever-evolving landscape of video games, we often witness the emergence of titles that draw inspiration from their predecessors, incorporating beloved mechanics to create unique experiences.

"Magic: Awakened," the new game from Netease set in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, is no exception. Drawing inspiration from the classic games "Mega Man Battle Network," "One Step From Eden," and "Slay the Spire," "Magic: Awakened" introduces a blend of real-time action, tactical strategy, and deck-building elements to captivate players. Of course these are not the only games ‘’Magic: Awakened’’ gets inspiration and iteration, but most played part, the PvP heavily relies on those. 

Harry Potter Magic Awakened PvP:

Despite its innovative approach, one significant challenge shows up on the horizon for this magical adventure – it's the first of its kind to tackle complex gameplay on the small screens of mobile devices, posing a considerable hurdle in creating a true user-friendly experience that can appeal to a broad audience. (Slay the Spire has a mobile version -not f2p, but it was not designed for a mobile device originally)

The games "Mega Man Battle Network," "One Step From Eden," and "Slay the Spire" have successfully etched their names into gaming history through their shared mechanic – the grid-based combat system. "Magic: Awakened" ingeniously builds upon this tried-and-true formula, enabling players to cast spells, wield magical abilities, and tactically position themselves in a similar grid-based fashion. (That’s whats happening in the back ground). But all the listed games gained popularity on various platforms, none have yet ventured into the mobile space.(At least didn’t appeal to broad audience). This leap of faith has the potential to revolutionize gaming on-the-go, but it also presents its share of challenges.

On small phone screens, the intricate gameplay mechanics of "Magic: Awakened" can be overwhelming and cumbersome to navigate. The user experience may suffer due to the complex interactions that are better suited for larger screens and precise controls. As a veteran game player of ‘’Hearthstone’’, I finally found peace when I switched to a 10 inch tablet to play this game 7 years ago. Everything started to make sense. It’s the same thing. Amount of complexity and number of cards to examine combined with real time combat is not a good experience on small mobile devices. 

General Gameplay

Otherwise, game is great. It really is. While its complex gameplay and lack of mass appeal on smaller screens might be seen as a problem (major one if you ask me), it also highlights the ambition and courage of developers to deliver innovative experiences. 

In fact, I can almost argue that it is better gameplay and has more options to play (pvp, pve) than ‘’Hogwarts Legacy’’. I mean is it just me or this game would be a better hit on consoles? The art is there, they certainly put elements to keep the game going. There is a little bit of narrative, theme is ready, card collecting is a thing. I mean what else do you need? They can make this game the best Harry Potter game ever made.

The mobile gaming industry is continuously evolving, and "Magic: Awakened" serves as a testament to the ever-growing potential of the platform. Though it may not be the perfect mobile gaming experience for everyone, it undoubtedly adds a touch of magic to the industry, reminding us of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

Cheers!